APPOINTMENTS

From November 2013 patients will be able to book appointments to see their GP on-line using this web-site. First of all you will need a personalised login and password which is available by calling into the Surgery or by telephoning and asking one of the Receptionists who will be happy to help you.

SURGERY OPENING HOURS

Abbotsbury Road Surgery is open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6.30pm with the exception of bank holidays.

The Surgery offers a range of appointment times between 7.30am and 6pm. All consultations are by appointment only. We will try to give you an appointment with the Doctor of your choice but if your need is urgent you will be offerred the first available appointment with any Doctor or with one of the Nurse Practitioners (NP).

The charts displayed below give a general indication of the availability of each GP and NP at both the Abbotsbury Road Main Surgery and the Branch Surgery at Chickerell. Dr Lane is NOT included in the charts as she works different days each work to cover any annual leave. It should be noted that whilst our receptionists will try their utmost to accommodate specific requests for days or times of appointments, please bear in mind that, owing to his/her own commitments and holidays, your GP may not be available, and if you do wish to see your GP of choice there may be a delay.

There is a Duty GP Emergency Clinic every afternoon at Abbotsbury Road Surgery for urgent matters which cannot wait until the following day.

Each GP and NP also has telephone consultation slots available every day so if you feel you can be helped over the telephone, please do request a telephone call back.

*GP Usual Availability - Chickerell Surgery: For your appointment at the Chickerell Branch Surgery please telephone 01305 761915. If the Chickerell Branch is closed your call will be diverted to the Main Surgery at Abbotsbury Road.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Doctor

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

AM

PM

Dr Brown

×

Dr Ward

×

×

Dr Carroll

x

Dr Armitage

×

×

NP Ruth

×

×

NP Elaine

×

×

*Subject to amendment dependent upon rotational changes

Dr Ward and Dr Armitage alternate Friday mornings at Chickerell.

If you are delayed or cannot attend your appointment, please contact the surgery as soon as possible. Cancelled appointments can then be offered to another patient

A proportion of each GP's appointments are SAME DAY appointments; these are not for urgent cases only but please bear in mind that in order to be seen on the same day the appointment may not be with your GP of choice, and there may not be a flexibility of time. Please telephone the surgery as early as possible, from 08:00, to make appointments for the same day.

There are also PRE-BOOKABLE appointments (up to one month in advance) for those who need to attend on a specific day. Obviously, when all pre-bookable appointments are taken, to be fair to everyone you will be asked to revert to same-day booking

48 HOURS ADVANCED BOOKABLE appointments are for patients who again need to be able to plan up to 48 hours in advance.

We also offer early morning appointments every day of the week with Nurse Practitioners, Practice Nurses and/or HCAs for patients who find it difficult to get to the surgery during normal opening hours due to work commitments.

Reception

The receptionists are here to help by making routine and emergency appointments for you to see our health care professionals. They will be sensitive and receptive to your requests and concerns, and you can be assured of their assistance and confidentiality at all times. They have been trained, at the request of the doctors, to make certain enquiries regarding your requests, which will enable them to quickly and efficiently resolve any problems. Please help by being co-operative.

Home Visits

If possible please try to telephone reception before 11:00 if you require a home visit.

A doctor or nurse may phone you back as it may be that your problem can be dealt with by telephone advice, or that it would be more appropriate to send a nurse, or indeed arrange a hospital attendance.

House visits are only available for patients who are housebound because of illness or disability.

Please remember that several patients can be seen in the practice in the time that it takes to make one home visit. There are also better facilities for examining and treating patients at the surgery.

Telephone Consultations

Our GPs and nurses are all available to give telephone advice, before and after their surgeries. If the doctor or nurse you wish to speak to is not available when you call, the receptionist will take a message and your call will be returned when the GP or nurse is free.

Hospital Transport

With effect from the 1st October 2013 the Practice will no longer be able to book hospital transport for patients. A new contract has been awarded by the local CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) to E-Zec who will be responsible for providing transport services for patients. Patients MUST telephone the DORSET PATIENT TRANSPORT BUREAU (Dorset PTB) on a dedicated patient line 0300 777 5555 between the hours of 8am - 6pm Monday to Friday in order to arrange their transport.